4 Things Law Students Need to Do To Land Their Dream Job

So you got awesome grades in high school and landed a place in law school, what now? Unlike studying for some other degrees, studying law at university means no coasting. It means working hard, studying hard, getting experience and getting not just good, but great grades.

During your time at university, it’s important to start thinking about how you’re going to land your dream job. It’s not going to fall in your lap, you’re going to have to work for it. Here are four very important steps to landing that dream job:

Pass Exams

You already know how to pass exams, otherwise you wouldn’t have earned your place studying law. However, passing law exams is a whole different thing. Not only do you need to know what you’re talking about, you need to know what’s expected of you in the exam.

Knowing how to pass law exams – and how to study for them – will be a major advantage, and may make the difference between doing well at law school and doing brilliantly. LexisNexis is a great resource for books, and includes Mastering Law Studies – a great source on how to study for and pass law exams.

Study Up

Once you know how to study, it’s time to get down to it. Studying law will mean a lot of reading, studying and preparation for classes as well as exams. Take on board the standard reading for each class, and find out from your professors what supplementary reading you can do.

It may mean you don’t have a weekend for the next few years, but it could help you get the grades you need to land that dream job. Depending on your studying style, it could help to join a study group – but don’t worry too much if it doesn’t work out, study groups are not for everyone.

Get a Clerkship

In law, perhaps more than any other field, it’s essential to get a great internship. Getting a great internship is good for your resume and future prospects, it’s good for gaining contacts, and it’s the best way to experience the profession that you will be entering after graduation.

In order to get a great internship, you will need to demonstrate the same skills required to get your dream job. You will need to show you have skills and experience, you will need an amazing cover letter and resume, and you will need to give great interview.

Prepare

Preparation is key to landing your dream job in law. First up, start looking for jobs. Seek is a good place to start looking – for jobs and internships – but be sure to check out industry job sites as well.

Once you have found your dream job, it’s time to research the firm and the job you are applying for. Find out how conservative the firm is, and create a job application that matches what they are looking for. Check out this Forbes article on how to get creative with job applications.

Work hard on your resume and cover letter – they are vital in the applicant selection process. It’s also important to practice your interview skills. Applicants set themselves apart in the interview process, and those who interview well are more likely to land their dream job.

Meet Rich DeMatteo

Rich DeMatteo, AKA Corn on the Job, is a globally recognized Career Expert, Gen Y Career Coach, and Social Media Marketer. Rich has spent time in Agency and Corporate Recruiting, and has a Masters in Human Resources from Villanova University. Along with being featured on Monster.com and Reader's Digest, he was also named one of the world's Top 100 Most Desirable Mentors.